Markets: News  

Europe stocks fall on China fears; Aegis soars

MADRID (MarketWatch) -- European stock-market indexes dropped at the open as losses on Wall Street and in Asia rattled investors. Jitters a day ahead of the release of China growth data weighed on resource stocks, while banks fell across the board. The Stoxx Europe 600 index fell 0.8% to 253.56, led by a 1.7% drop for HSBC Holdings PLC and a 0.9% fall for Total SA . Shares of Aegis Group PLC soared 45% after Japan's Dentsu agreed a 240 pence cash offer for the U.K. media group. The French CAC 40 index fell 0.6% to 3,139.44, with Carrefour SA jumping 4.2% after a sales update. The German DAX 30 index dropped 0.8% to 6,402.61, and the FTSE 100 index shed 0.7% to 5,625.41.